OBJECTIVES

This is an evidence report prepared by the University of Connecticut/Hartford Hospital Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) examining the comparative efficacy and safety of prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in major orthopedic surgery (total hip replacement [THR], total knee replacement [TKR], and hip fracture surgery [HFS]) and other nonmajor orthopedic surgeries (knee arthroscopy, injuries distal to the hip requiring surgery, and elective spine surgery).

DATA SOURCES

Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus from 1980 to May 2011 with no language restrictions.

REVIEW METHODS

Controlled trials of any size and controlled observational studies with ≥750 subjects were included in our comparative effectiveness review if they were in patients undergoing one of six a priori defined orthopedic surgeries; provided data on prespecified intermediate, final health, or harms outcomes; defined deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) according to rigorous criteria (where applicable), and included prophylactic products (pharmacologic or mechanical) available in the United States. Using predefined criteria, data on study design, interventions, quality criteria, study population, baseline characteristics, and outcomes were extracted. All of the available data were qualitatively evaluated and where possible, statistically pooled. We used random effects derived relative risks (RR) for most analyses and Peto's Odds Ratios (OR) in comparisons of rare events both with 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs). I was used to detect statistical heterogeneity and Egger's weighted regression statistics were used to assess for publication bias. The strength of evidence (SOE) and applicability of evidence (AOE) for each outcome was rated as insufficient (I), low (L), moderate (M), or high (H).

RESULTS

In major orthopedic surgery (THR, TKR, and HFS, respectively), the incidence of DVT (39 percent, 53 percent, 47 percent), PE (6 percent, 1 percent, 3 percent), major bleeding (1 percent, 3 percent, 8 percent), and minor bleeding (5 percent, 5 percent, not reported) were reported in the placebo/control groups of clinical trials. The SOE and AOE were predominantly low for THR and TKR and was insufficient HFS. In major orthopedic surgery, pharmacologic prophylaxis reduced major venous thromboembolism (VTE) (OR 0.21 [0.05 to 0.95], SOE: L, AOE: L), DVT (RR 0.56 [0.47 to 0.68], SOE: M, AOE: L), and proximal DVT (pDVT) (RR 0.53 [0.39 to 0.74], SOE: H, AOE: L), but increased minor bleeding (RR 1.67 [1.18 to 2.38], SOE: H, AOE: M). Prolonged prophylaxis for ≥28 days was superior to prophylaxis for 7 to 10 at reducing symptomatic objectively confirmed VTE (RR 0.38 [0.19 to 0.77], SOE: M, AOE: L), PE (OR 0.13 [0.04 to 0.47], SOE: H, AOE: L), DVT (RR 0.37 [0.21 to 0.64], SOE: M, AOE: M), and pDVT (RR 0.29 [0.16 to 0.52], SOE: H, AOE: M) but increased minor bleeding (OR 2.44 [1.41 to 4.20], SOE: H, AOE: M). Using both pharmacologic and mechanical prophylaxis reduced DVT (RR 0.48 [0.32 to 0.72] SOE: M, AOE: M) versus pharmacologic prophylaxis alone. Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) reduced PE (OR 0.48 [0.24 to 0.95], SOE: M, AOE: L), DVT (RR 0.80 [0.65 to 0.99], SOE: M, AOE: L), pDVT (RR 0.60 [0.38 to 0.93], SOE: H, AOE: L), major bleeding (OR 0.57 [0.37 to 0.88], SOE: H, AOE: L), and heparin induced thrombocytopenia (OR 0.12 [0.03 to 0.43], SOE: M, AOE: L) versus unfractionated heparin. LMWHs reduced DVT (RR 0.66 [0.55 to 0.79], SOE: L, AOE: M) but increased major bleeding (RR 1.92 [1.27 to 2.91], SOE: H, AOE: M), minor bleeding (RR 1.23 [1.06 to 1.43], SOE: M, AOE: M), and surgical site bleeding (OR 2.63 [1.31 to 5.28], SOE: L, AOE: L) versus vitamin K antagonists. LMWHs increased DVT (RR 1.99 [1.57 to 2.51], SOE: M, AOE: L) and pDVT (OR 2.19 [1.52 to 3.16], SOE: L, AOE: L) but reduced major bleeding (OR 0.65 [0.48 to 0.89], SOE: M, AOE: L) versus factor Xa inhibitors. Antiplatelets increased DVT (1.63 [1.11 to 2.39], SOE: M, AOE: L) versus mechanical prophylaxis. Unfractionated heparin increased DVT (RR 2.31 [1.34 to 4.00], SOE: M, AOE: L) and pDVT (OR 4.74 [2.99 to 7.49], SOE: M, AOE: L) versus direct thrombin inhibitors. Intermittent compression stocking decreased DVT (RR 0.06 [0.01 to 0.41], SOE: L, AOE: L) versus graduated compression stockings. We did not have adequate information to evaluate the role of inferior vena cava filter (IVC) filters or to evaluate the impact of prophylaxis on nonmajor orthopedic surgeries.

CONCLUSIONS

In major orthopedic surgery, while the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis is highest followed by pulmonary embolism and major bleeding, there are inadequate data to say whether or not deep vein thrombosis causes pulmonary embolism or is an independent predictor of pulmonary embolism. The balance of benefits to harms is favorable for providing prophylaxis to these patients and to extend the period of prophylaxis beyond the standard 7–10 days. The comparative balance of benefits to harms for LMWHs are superior to unfractionated heparin. Other interclass comparisons either could not be made due to lack of data, showed similarities between classes on outcomes, or had offsetting effects where benefits of one class on efficacy was tempered by an increased risk of bleeding. The balance of benefits to harms for combined pharmacologic plus mechanical prophylaxis versus either strategy alone could not be determined. We could not determine the impact of IVC filters on outcomes or the impact of prophylaxis on the nonmajor orthopedic surgeries evaluated.